Ruin is the third installment in L.M. Pruitt’s Damned series, a spin off to her vast Winged chronicles. Damned follows the transformation of Julie Watson from entitled socialite to damned succubus. Characterised by its imaginative paranormal intrigue, colourful characters, wry humour, and delicious erotica, this series is fresh to be sure. Pruitt bravely takes her characters into territory rarely traversed in this genre.

In this installment, Julie is steeped in danger as double agent for Abby, right hand to Morningstar. Realizing her life is in serious peril, Julie casts herself in the role of Cambores’ political partner and lover. For his part, Cam wishes to overthrow the leadership of Asmodeus, Julie’s maker and former lover. Over throwing middle management isn’t enough for Cam, however, as he has his sights set on a hellish revolution. Deemed an emergent queen to be, Julie needs to assert herself if she’s going to survive. Julie’s tie to her sister Joanne, a highly influential member of the Winged, only adds a layer of danger and complication to Julie’s operation. But the more time Julie spends with Cam, the more deeply she feels the allure of power.

I’m absolutely loving Julie’s transformation and she’s quickly becoming my new favourite. I’m drawn to her deeply flawed character and unabashed honesty about her shortcomings, materialistic proclivities, and insatiable sexual appetite. Julie’s magnetism is quickly amassing her a rich and wildly entertaining entourage, which is only adding to the entertainment. I’ll even admit, just between us, that I identify more with Julie than I do with most book leads. Julie says what everyone else is thinking but hasn’t dared utter, much less act upon. And Pruitt just keeps taking it there. I’m thrilled to be along for the ride. This series has been my most fun read of 2017 so far.

Excerpt

“Is it done?” Cam strapped the saddle bags he’d somehow managed to stuff all my clothes in to the little bike—not quite a motorcycle but bigger and less dorky than a scooter. When I didn’t answer right away, he stepped over to me, grabbing my face in his hands and squeezing. “Coniglietto. Is it done? Did you take care of her?”

“Yes.” Even to my own ears my voice sounded dull and lifeless. Considering the fact I felt high as fucking kite, I could only assume it was shock. “I took care of her.”

Not in the way he meant, not exactly, but I’d taken care of her the best way I knew how.

I’d done a lot of horrible things, on purpose and accident, and I had no doubt I would do more horrible things still. But I’d be damned even more than I already was before I actually killed my sister.

“Good girl.” Cam pressed a quick, hard kiss to my forehead before steering me toward the bike. “I have little doubt the archangels will be here soon—so we shouldn’t be.”

“Where are we going?” It didn’t matter. I had, for all intents and purposes, hooked my wagon to his. If anyone threw doubt on my commitment to the so-called cause, all Cam would have to do was point out what I’d done to Joanne. Sure, there might be trouble when it came out she wasn’t actually dead but it could all be explained away as yet another newbie mistake.

After all, they taught us how to not kill people. Not the opposite.

“I’m thinking Prague.” He settled himself on the bike, gesturing for me to do the same. He handed me a helmet, his lips curving upward when I stared at it blankly. “Safety, little rabbit. And a disguise. It’s safer for us to blend in at the moment.”

“Right.” My hands felt thick and clumsy as I struggled to strap on the protective headgear and I cursed under my breath when Cam finally took pity on me and did it himself. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Change is hard, little rabbit.” He brushed his lips over mine before flicking the tip of my nose. “Now, let’s go take over the world, hmm?”

Bianca GreenwoodAbout the Author:website-FB-twittergoodreads-amazonL.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She knows this because she's killed bamboo. Twice. She is the author of the Winged series, the Plaisir Coupable series, Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, and Taken: A Frankie Post Novel.